Coveney approves €20.4m of funding for 83 rapid build homes

The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government Mr. Simon Coveney, TD, recently outlined progress on the Rapid Build projects initiative.

Under Pillar 1, address homelessness in Rebuilding Ireland there is a commitment to accelerate the delivery of rapid build homes and to provide 1,500 homes by the end of 2018.

“I am pleased to be in the position to outline further progress under the rapid build programme. I have approved two projects estimated to cost €20.4million which will deliver 83 homes for homeless families. These homes will take families out of commercial hotels and provide them with a home until they move to permanent social housing,” said the Minister.

At the end of 2016, a total of 350 rapid build homes were advancing through various stages of delivery, including construction, with 22 rapid build homes being delivered and occupied in 2016. A further 650 rapid build homes will be advanced in 2017, with another 500 units to be delivered in 2018.

There has been significant pressure to ramp-up rapid build delivery, which local authorities have been responding to positively. Of particular note is the establishment of a framework of rapid build contractors by the Office of Government Procurement, which means that local authorities across the country will be able to run quicker procurement competitions and advance rapid build projects to site more efficiently and effectively.

“My Department continues to work closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including rapid build homes,” ended Minister Coveney.